Door mounting



May 13, 1952 Filed June 23, 1949 T. J. M CLURE DOOR MOUNTING '2 SHEETSSHEET 1 F/G-Z IN VENTOR;

k) a mam/v .[MCZUif ATTD R N EYS T. J. M CLURE DOOR MOUNTING May 13, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed June 25, 1949 ATTEI RN EYE Patented May 13, 1952 Eur OFFICE 1 DOOR MOUNTING Truman J. McClure, Olney Springs, Colo.

Application June 23, 1949, Serial No. 100,837

This invention relates to a door mounting, and more particularly toamounting for a door "of a refrigerator, orsafe, or the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a door mounting for doors of refrigerators, cabinets, safes, and the like, whereby the door can be mounteclso as to be swung open to the left or right. I I a Another object of the invention is to provide a frame which hingedly supports a door for a refrigerator o-r cabinet, wherein the frame is adapted to be releasably attached to the body of the refrigerator or the like, so that the position of the frame can be readily reversed whereby the door can be readily swung open to the left ,or right, according to the desires or needs of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door mounting which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts-throughout the same: a

Figure l is a front elevational View of a refrigerator with the door opened, the door being hingedly connected to one vertical edge thereof;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a refrigerator, with the door closed and with the door being hingedly connected to the other vertical edge thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the frame or jamb;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a refrigerator which is indicated generally by the numeral Ill. The present invention is directed to a means for mounting the door onto the refrigerator so that the door can be swung open either from the right or left, according to the desires or needs of the user. However, although the door mounting has been shown in use on a refrigerator, it is to be understood that the door mountingcan also be applied or used with other structures such as safes, or cabinets and 1 Claim. (Cl. 312-329) 2 i. the like. The refrigerator It) includes a body II which is provided with a mass of insulation l2 therein, as is conventional in refrigerators. The refrigerator I0 may also include a compartment l3 for the storage of foodstuffs in bulk. Suitable recesses Hi and I4 may be provided in the refrigerator, Figure 1, and instruments, such as thermometers l5 and the like are adapted to be positioned in the openings or compartments I4 and M whereby the temperature condition of the refrigerator can be readily controlled.

7 The body II is provided with a recess 15 which extends circumferentially around the front plate of the body II of the refrigerator. Positioned in the recess I 6 is a frame or jamb I! which may be fabricated of any suitable material such as sheet metal or the like. The frame I! is provided with alarge rectangular recess I8 whereby access can be had therethrough to the interior of the refrigerator or cabinet for removing and replacing usual articles therein.

Arranged inspaced relation about the frame l1 and secured thereto, as by welding, is a plurality of blocks l9. The frame I! may be of any suitable material and in fabricating the frame, there is provided a large rectangular opening I 8 which permits a person to gain access to the interior of the refrigerator to remove and replace articles as desired. The blocks I 9 and frame I! are provided with registering openings 20, the openings in the frame being countersunk as at 2|, Figure 3. A securing element such as a threaded bolt 22 projects through the threaded openings 20 and into threaded engagement with the body H to maintain the frame I! in assembled relation on the body I I.

The frame I! is provided with an elongated recess 23 adjacent each end thereof and the recesses 23 are adapted to register with the openings l4 or [4 whereby access can be had to the control instruments l5. The above described construction is such that the blocks l9 provide an added reenforcement at the point where the securing elements 22 fasten the frame ll to the body H and this will insure a long life for the mounting. Secured to the inner surface of the frame [7, as by welding, is a hollow casing 25 which carries a latch 26 therein. There is also provided a countersunk opening 27 in the frame ll adjacent the casing 25 for the projection therethrough of one of the securing elements 22.- The casing 25 is adapted to seat in either one of a pair of recesses 23 or 29 which are arranged in the body of the. refrigerator or cabinet; The recesses 28 and 29 are arranged in the same horizontal plane so that one of these recesses will accommodate or receive the casing 25 regardless of the position of the frame [1.

A door 39 is provided for normally closing the refrigerator l0, and the door 30 includes a resilient sealing member 3| for insuring an airtight connection between the door and the refrigerator when the door is in its closed position. A manually operable handle 3?. is connected to the door 30 and the handle 32 actuates a catch 33 which is adapted to engage the latch 26 when the door is closed to prevent the door 39 from being accidentally opened.

Arranged contiguous to the inner surface of the frame I! and secured thereto, as by welding, is a pair of hinge parts 34 and 35, the hinge parts 34 and 35 being arranged on the opposite edge from the casing 25. Secured to the door 30 is a pair of hinge parts 36 which each coact with the hinge parts 34 and 35 to provide a hinged connection between the door and the frame H. A suitable pin 38 projects through the coacting hinge parts on the frame 41 and door 35, Figure 4.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a mounting has been provided for a refrigerator, safes, cabinets and the like. By using the mounting of the present invention, the door 30 may be hung as shown in Figure 1 so that the door opens to the right. This is accomplished by arranging the frame I! as shown in Figure 1, and the frame I? is connected to the body H of the refrigerator or other cabinet, by means of the plurality of threaded bolts 22. This arrangement permits the door 30 to be opened to the right and when the door 30 is closed, the catch 33 will engage with the latch 26 to prevent accidental opening of the door 30. In theevent that the user desires to have the door 39 open to the left, the door and frame are arranged as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the bolts 22 are, removed and the frame I! is rotated or moved to a position 180 from the position shown in Figure 1. The bolts 22 are again moved into engagement with the registering openings 20 and with the body ll so that the frame l1 will be fixedly attached to the body of the refrigerator. Since the recesses 28 and 29 are arranged in the same horizontal plane, the latch casing 25 will be snugly received in one of the recesses regardless of Whether the door is mounted for swinging movement to the left or right. Further, the arrangement of the pair of recesses 23 in each end of the frame I! insures that the instruments l5 will at all times be accessible to the user. The number of bolts 22 and blocks I9 can be varied in accordance with the weight of the door 30. Thus, the present invention enables the manufacturer to build a refrigerator or cabinet which will fit into any kitchen or apartment since the user can have the door 30 open from either side by merely inverting the door frame IT. The door can be hung from either side of the refrigerator in a relative short time, and the construction insures that the cabinet or refrigerator will be attractive and pleasing to the eye.

What I claim is:

In a means for mounting a door to swing optionally about either vertical edge of a door opening in a cabinet; a frame arranged in surrounding relation with respect to said door opening; a plurality of pairs of spaced blocks secured to the frame in positions symmetrical with respect to its horizontal and vertical center lines; securing elements projecting through said frame, blocks and into said cabinet; said door being hingedly mounted on one edge of the frame; the symmetrical positions of the blocks allowingsaid one edge to be positioned alternately at either vertical edge of the door opening.

TRUMAN J. MCCLURE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 721,024 Cowles Feb. 17, 1903 809,592 Watts Jan. 9, 1906 1,992,830 Mattila Feb.'26, 1935 2,234,847 Swedman Mar. 11, 1941 2,311,549 James Feb. 16, 1943 2,360,451 Stone Oct. 17, 1944 

